Music, a seemingly innocent topic of conversation can bring me a great deal of pain when headed down the wrong direction. We ended up talking about what we like, what we don’t like, what we’re excited about, and what came to be disappointing, but no matter where we are, it always comes back to that one person who always gives the rest of us the classic excuse, “There’s just nothing new that’s good.”

Cats are without a doubt the most amazing creatures in the whole entire universe. Not only are they great, easy-to-handle pets, but are also the epitome of the internet today. GIF after cat GIF, cats never cease to make us laugh until we cry, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

In high school there are many special occasions to look forward to: school dances and birthday bashes. You make plans with friends, rent limos, and buy dresses, but really, what are you thinking about when it comes to these events? How are you planning on showing up?

﻿As I sit here in my Doctor Who t-shirt, with my Harry Potter backpack sprawled open at my feet, and BBC’s Sherlock playing in the background, I can’t help but wonder about the stereotypes surrounding the term ‘fangirl.’

Is it really almost the end of my senior year? What a crazy roller coaster of a ride these past four years have been. From the trials, errors, disappointments, tears, and triumphs that I have experienced, I am walking away from high school knowing so much more than when I walked in, and not just academically. I’ve learned a lot of lessons – some the hard way. There are definitely things I wish I would have known before I entered high school. This being my last article, I am dedicating it to incoming and current freshmen so they can learn the things I didn’t know.

The blow to the face, the ringing in your ear, the sting on your cheek, the drowning feeling of indescribable sadness and forced guilt. Emptiness surrounds you, however it has to be your fault. You really must have been flirting with another guy this time, you weren’t just being nice. You begin to question your every move. Was I really staring at him? Were those text messages to my guy friend as innocent as I thought they were? I must have done something to deserve this. After all, he loves me.

If one thing is certain, it’s that there needs to be a instruction manual for incoming high-school freshman – how to do this, when to do that, what’s important and what’s not going to matter in ten years – because we all know that it would save everyone a whole lot of time and effort. Unfortunately though, there isn’t. Kids are left to learn manual-worthy lessons on their own; some lessons are learned by experience, some by association, and some simply by observance.

Over the course of four years, high school can fill that theoretical manual pretty full, but perhaps the most important lesson one could learn from that manual may not be realized until late in the high-school career, or even afterward: to not let high school be the center of the universe.

As a kid, all I used to sing was, “Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a Spiderman can.”I still sing it today. I’ve been a Spiderman fan since I was a kid, and my mom has tons of pictures of me dressed up in Spiderman costumes. Consequently I was very excited for the new movie, The Amazing Spiderman 2, the sequel to the 2012 film, The Amazing Spiderman.

High school, day one: lost, shy, and scared. My first class on that day was Journalism – Newspaper with Rebecca Dominy in room 6160. A series of questions ran through my head as 8:25 a.m. came closer and closer by the minute: where is room 6160? I knew the class would be filled with upperclassmen – what if they think I’m weird?

Two hours of consecutive six second videos. How tedious does that sound? You begin to ask yourself, this can’t be me? It was just 11 o’clock, how is it already two in the morning? No way have I been staring at a screen for hours at a time. In this day and age however, technology has the power to do exactly that, and I too have fallen victim.

‘Friend.’ A common concept that people recognize all around the world. A word that can be sincere, or just routinely spoken, a word that can hold meaning, or be completely hollow inside, a word that I had placed on so many people without truly knowing what it stood for, but now all that it stands for couldn’t be any clearer. The person who holds this prestigious title not only has the word ‘friend’ by her name, but ‘best’ in front of it.

Anyone who had a PS2 played ‘Need for speed’ as a kid; now it has turned to a movie in 2014. Upon hearing the news of the movie, I questioned, “Will I need to watch it, or will it be another video game turned to a movie become a bust?”

It’s that time of year again – the excitement of prom is in the air, and the majority of junior and senior girls are beginning their search for the perfect dress. After a suitable dress is found, then comes the hair dying, spray tanning, and nail painting, all in preparation for the big day. While all of this can be exciting, the cost of prom has a tendency to take away some of the fun of the event. However, this does not have to be the case.

Burgers: about the most American a food can get. Something so easy to make and yet when prepared correctly can become the best thing you have ever eaten. I was on a mission to find the best burger in the Bryan/College Station area, and I am glad to report that I have found a winner.

A college acceptance means a lot of things for a student; it marks the time for filling the closet with school colors, buying dorm essentials, setting up a credit card, planning out a course schedule, looking into all the interesting intramural sports and student organizations offered on campus – the list is endless. However, though it can be lost in the midst of excitement, a college acceptance also means an extraordinary monetary commitment.

Being born and raised in Florida, from Miami to Tampa, I was comfortable in my surroundings and I didn’t want to move. I was very hesitant, about moving halfway across the country, but I would never have guessed how great Texas would be, despite many things are different. Though I’ve only been here for a month and haven’t experienced everything just yet, but it seems to be going well.

“Life’s a dance you learn as you go… don’t worry ‘bout what you don’t know. Life’s a dance you learn as you go.” This country tune by John Michael Montgomery tells us not to worry about the unknown, but most of us can’t say that we haven’t. All of us worry to an extent, and with good reason. For me, senior year is here, and my worries focus around my future. While I’m excited, I’m also concerned.

Yes, you read that correctly – read it several more times if you must. No, we did not become best friends after we met, we were best friends already. How, you ask? Technology is a wonderful thing. It has the power to connect two very similar people – so alike that it’s scary, actually – who are separated by 1,337 miles and would never know each other otherwise. Call it weird, question why I can’t make a best friend in my own city (let alone my own state), offer to sign us up for the TV show Catfish – I’ve heard it all before.

Most of us have been judged by someone, whether it was based on what we wore, what style of hair we rocked, who we dated, the people we hung out with, etc. The list is never ending. Well, one thing some may or may not have checked off their list, is being judged based on their education.

During last year’s running of the Snowball Derby – the most prestigious Super Late Model race in the country – I was simply a spectator. That’s more than most people can say, however, as the race isn’t televised and is therefore only truly accessible to those who make the trip to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida to watch it. But this time around, in the 46th-annual running of the race, I was introduced to a whole new side of the event, and of racing itself: I returned to Five Flags Speedway with a media credential and a crew that had bounds more experience with doing at-track race coverage than I.

The issue over whether to teach sex education in schools remains a hot debate topic. In many cases, parents wish to solely be responsible for educating their children on sex and sex-related topics. On the other hand many teachers, administrators, and parents feel that education is the only means of decreasing teen pregnancy.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, the popcorn is strung and draped on the tree, and the sweet melodies of Bing Crosby are playing through the house…but it’s July 1 and others are wondering what’s going on.

Americans are creatures of habit, and one habit we stay true to is our pastimes. America has many pastimes, from baseball to block parties and especially eating out. From coast to coast there are restaurants, fast food places, cafes, and buffets galore!

Tumblr, A place of wonder and self expression. This social media site let people express their emotions without having to type a thing in status form. The beauty of it is that most people are wrapped up with Facebook and other social media sites and don’t necessarily enjoy blogging, so you don’t have to worry from judgement from your peers regarding the things on your Tumblr page.

Your head shoots up from your little bright screen. You jump to your feet, knock your chair over, leap over the couch, run across the state, over the lava, swim across the Atlantic Ocean, fight off members of a drug cartel, make it past a Pterodactyl without being eaten alive, run straight through WWII safe from the falling bombs, sneak past zombies in an apocalypse, climb over Mt. Everest and finally you reach it — the cherished charger that will give life to your beautiful, beloved cell phone.

Do I want grilled cheese or Chef Boyardee? Should I play outside or watch the next episode of Powerpuff Girls? Do I want pigtails or a giant bow in my hair? What were once time consuming decisions that filled my eight-year-old brain became futile as I grew up. One thing never changed; my decisions were impulsive and pleasing for that time.

“It’s going to be the best week of your life!” I was told numerous times before the day finally came for me to pack my bags and head to Crooked Creek Ranch- a YoungLife Camp in Fraser, Colorado this summer. The best week of my life though? I could hardly think of the best day of my life, let alone the best week, but I remained open-minded to the idea that this could quite possibly be the best week ever.

Summer has always been carefree for me. The sun kisses my skin, sweets become even sweeter, sweat goes unnoticed, and of course spending every day with my friends is the best part. But the summer after my junior year was different. Sure, it was still a break from school, but seeing my expectations in comparison to my realizations was like a slap in the face.

Male students don’t want to look like Si Robertson from “Duck Dynasty”, they just don’t want to risk cutting themselves shaving their mustaches and beards for a random rule. Students can not help that they are growing older and that hair is beginning to grow out on their faces like grass in a field, and some teachers come off a bit hypocritical when they have a beard to the floor and get upset that we have a little peach fuzz on our face, It’s like we are breaking some kind of ancient law punishable by incarceration in county jail.

An hour on the treadmill to get a daily workout in sounds like a blast, right? Wrong. That is, unless you’re a running enthusiast – which, truthfully, most of us aren’t. And even for those who are, stationary running still doesn’t sound like very much fun.

Everyone has their preference when it comes to the seasons of the year. In Texas we all look forward to the time of year when it’s not 100+ degrees outside. I could care less about the temperature-my favorite season doesn’t have much to do with the temperature, but instead, centers around when my parents go […]

Society today is globally interconnected, where ideas and technology can be shared across the globe almost instantly with the push of a button. At the heart of this constant technological exchange is a device that has spread to six continents and every country on the map – cell phones. Most phones are able to easily fit into pockets or handbags, and the ability to share information almost instantly has become very important. However, most students have taken the technology far beyond their original purpose; so one must pose the question, do people really need these pocket-sized distractions?

Organization makes us feel in control. When everything is in its place, the world just seems happier. Sorting, sifting, and maybe even pinning all help us feel accomplished and organized. At least that’s the effect it has on me.

Technology shapes everything, from massive corporations to daily life and this influence is especially true in schools. New technology being constantly integrated has changed classrooms greatly over the past few decades.

It functions as a girl’s dream closet, personal cookbook, future house plan, wedding-day checklist, workout motivation, and everything in between. Most notably, though, Pinterest is the database of basically every “Do-It-Yourself” project known to man (better yet, woman). The DIY projects featured on Pinterest are so enticing and look so very simple, but the fact […]

Racing isn’t just a sport. It’s a lifestyle, centered around a sport. Racing is something that gets in your blood, and stays in your gene pool for generations down the line. For those who haven’t experienced racing first hand, racing seems like it is simply “left turns for a few hours”, but it’s so much […]

Cell phone screens have become excessively large with no additional benefits. A bulging pocket, the struggle of holding and using it, and being caught attempting to secretly text in class, it seems like no breakthrough has really come from increasing the screen size.

For nine months, I waited. For nine months, I planned and anticipated what was to come. For nine months, I spent most of my time imagining what it would be like to meet my daughter. And finally on January 21 I didn’t have to imagine, plan, or wonder what she’d look like or how she’d make me feel. It all became real. After six hours of contractions and 30 minutes of pushing, they handed me the closest thing to heaven I’ve ever seen. She joined me in this world, and she’s mine. I delivered a piece of perfection.Those two days in the hospital, it all felt like a dream and with the nurses there to help, parenting Aleeya seemed doable.

As the number of students cutting class across the nation increases, school districts have turned to extreme methods in an effort to control attendance. Several schools have implemented a microchip device in student identification badges that monitors the location of students on campus. This topic has sparked controversy in several school districts, especially in Texas […]

As more mass shootings take place in America, the topic of gun control becomes more prevalent with the public. In response, President Barack Obama has recently made a controversial proposal to congress regarding the nation’s gun control laws aimed at the nations weapons holders. Now, more than ever, it is critical that citizens are familiar with the second amendment. As a free nation, we must realize that we cannot blame the masses for the acts of the few.

Over the past few years, statistics have shown that gun crimes seem to be dramatically increasing every year since 1999. Since the Columbine High School shooting of 1999, the Virginia Tech shooting of 2007, the Batman shooting of 2012 in Aurora, Colorado, and the most recent Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut in 2012, including numerous others in between, have left American hearts in pieces.

In the midst of the freezing winter months, people dream of summer vacations, bikinis, pool parties, and trips to the beach. Most want to trade in those fuzzy boots for a pair of sandals, and feel sand between their toes rather than snow under their feet. Yet, in the midst of summer, we long for the frigid winter, bonfires, and the chance to bring the newest pair of Ugg boots out of our closets.

This October, my friends and I sat on the bleachers watching the Viking football game like most Friday nights in the fall. Boredom began to strike while the scoreboard remained unchanged and time passed slowly. Then, we were suddenly approached by a girl. She immediately sparked conversation after conversation with us, adding some much needed pep to our average night. (I later learned was a YoungLife leader). I appreciated the fact that she didn’t just come out and say that she was a leader or try to smooth talk us into going, like some entrepreneur opening a new business would have. She took the time to get to know us before talking about what YoungLife was and by the end of the night, we exchanged numbers and that’s where the journey began.

Maybe it’s hormones or maybe it’s just me being paranoid as usual, but I honestly expect the worst. I’m not saying having a baby is horrible or anything, but I do think that my life will change dramatically.

Ever since elementary school we’ve been accustomed to waiting in a line for our lunches. As we get older, get our driver’s license, and get a sense of freedom and responsibility, a lot of students would say that off-campus lunch would be something appropriate for them.

As we approach the second semester, many of us find ourselves struggling to plan out our futures and make life altering decisions. With college looming around the corner, the decision remains, to stay or to go.

It’s widely accepted that some sort of punishment is required for individuals who break a law. However, the nature of that punishment is a source of much debate. The most oft used form of punishment is either a monetary fine or jail time.

As we approach the holiday season, we begin to see widespread food drives and donation stands run by the Salvation Army and other organizations to give people the opportunity to donate to the less fortunate in the community.

Scorpions falling from the sky, fire coming from the surface of the earth, buildings and bridges collapsing, dead animals on the streets, humans eating humans, earthquakes every hour, tsunamis engulfing islands, cars falling through cracks in the streets and down to the center of the scorching earth to be burned, with no mercy on the lives of all 6 billion people living on this planet.

Augmented reality Glasses’ sound like something from a science fiction movie. With over a year before they release and a prototype available, Google Glasses are now reality. Project Glass was revealed on August 4th, 2012, and a consumer version is planned for 2014. While this technology has many advantages there is also the potential for misuse by Google.

The past 12 years of school have led us to this moment: your senior year. The days of naptime are long gone, and soon we wave goodbye to the familiar friday night lights. The next steps will most likely determine the course of our lives, or so we are told. But how are we supposed to jump into the ‘real world’? The possibility of college is daunting enough, but the possibility of leaving home, our hometown, or even the state does not come without fear or apprehension.

One of the best days of my life was when I saw my favorite artist Kid Cudi. My best friend and I waited outside in the burning hot sun for hours at the Cedar Park Center just to get a glimpse of the man himself. As we found our seats, they were playing some of […]

In the gym,the football team runs through the gym doors to their chairs. Cheerleaders, Shy-Annes and Color Guard members show off their routines while the other students in the stands are cheering and shouting, showing their school spirit. Well maybe not everyone.

If you scroll through the average teen’s twitter feed, you’re sure to find at least one tweet along the lines of “omg kms”. I can confidently say that my generation is definitely one the most apathetic generations if not the most. Being self-centered is a stage most teens go through, but it’s at an all […]

Living in Mexico for four months provided me with the opportunity to realize how different Mexico is from the United States on a personal level. Although Mexico and the United States are geographic neighbors, they exhibit very different backgrounds, cultures, and ancestry.

Ever walked through an aisle at the grocery store, seeing multiple opportunities to win an inconceivable amount of money, or a dream vacation for doing something as simple as entering a code from a box or a bottle cap?

Having a parent as a civil servant is not an easy thing, especially for me. My dad, a sergeant at the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, has been serving our community for the last 18 years, longer than I have been alive.

Summer is going well; everything is great. Roads aren’t crowded, restaurants are empty, stores are calm, and then the end of August comes and everything changes. The college students return to school and those once empty restaurants turn into loud, crowded places and the roads are filled with distracted drivers.

As I walked into school, starting the tenth grade with nerves on edge, I noticed how many people were in the cafeteria. Then I saw the differences; a new principal, televisions in the cafeteria, and even more would be revealed later.

Last year the school board instituted a zero tolerance technology program on campus. Typing school reports during lunch and texting were both seen as unacceptable and disruptive to the learning environment. Most students were left scratching their heads as to how these two acts could be grouped under the same category of activity. One was quite obviously disruptive and disrespectful, but the other was clearly a positive attempt to get ahead on their studies.

With the recent court verdict between Samsung and Apple, it’s apparent that in America no one can accomplish anything if someone else opposes it. The basis of Apple’s lawsuit is that Samsung’s devices and software are derivative of the iPhone and iOS. Even though Samsung is counter-suing, the specific examples that both parties cite are […]

Well everybody it’s the end. This is my last article for the Norseman and as I get ready to graduate and start my life, I can’t help but look back and reflect on my four years at Bryan High. Each year was a struggle to not only graduate, but just to find myself.

Teenagers today feel that the only way to fit in with their peers is by doing what they think everyone else is doing: skipping school, doing drugs, having sex, attending wild parties, drinking, and anything else that may be considered reckless.

In season one of Lifetime’s hit reality series, Dance Moms, I was invited to get a front row seat in my living room to watch the most talented dance students compete all across the nation. With prestigious awards and once in a lifetime auditions that the cast of Dance Moms in Pittsburgh received, I was expected Dance Moms: Miami, the newest addition of the show, to be the same. To my surprise, my assumption was wrong.

There have been many changes in the general rules around this school, with the dress code being one of the most significant. The constant nagging of teachers for students to tuck in their shirts in the hallways and the dozens of students sent to SAC for an unshaven face. Seeing students being told to remove their headphones or lose them. While these rules had good intentions, they led to all the wrong results.

Ladies, take a look at the man in your life. What do you see? When I look at my boyfriend, I see an “adorkable” guy that only has my best interests at heart. He cares for me and only wants me to be happy.

I’m sure most of us have heard these words before, and if you were anything like me, you didn’t accept “Because I said so” as an actual reason not to do something. Yet, so many of us accept this excuse when it comes to the law.

As Americans, we pride ourselves in our rights and freedoms that are endowed by our Creator and guaranteed in our stall worth constitution. Above all other rights, Americans have always treasured and valued the freedom of religion, as decreed in the First Amendment.

As teenagers still living under our parents’ roof, finding a place to extend your social life online has become more and more difficult. One place where many of us decide to express our social lives is Facebook. With the accessibility of Facebook, we’re able to post statuses about our crazy weekend out with friends and pictures of us having a grand ‘ole time.

As Facebook’s popularity is sprouting and more people are creating accounts though, our privacy is going down, down, down. One specific group of people who ruins that for us. Who am I talking about? Well of course, the people we’re closest to -our very own parents.

When you get a friend request on Facebook, you normally think that person is your friend, however, when your parents add you as a friend one would tend to feel as though their parents are trying to play a role that isn’t their place.

Many people see their body as a haven for self expression, and a blank canvas. The choice to alter the way you look by getting a tattoo is a serious decision. In most cases, once done, it can’t be erased.

A teenager’s first love is the greatest. When you think you’ve finally found a person you believe understands you and accepts you, it’s pure bliss. All the attention and acknowledgement you get from that person makes you so happy, but is this what love is? J

Are you looking for a new workout routine that will make you never want to leave the gym? Zumba, a popular workout routine that incorporates Latin dance moves with a core workout, is gaining popularity in gyms all across America.

Distancing yourself from the wrong crowd may be hard for some people, but succeeding in life depends on taking the right path to obtain your goals. As much as people argue against it, your friends do define who you are and which path you take in life.

Fashion is one of the easiest and exciting ways to express yourselves, whether you’re a teenager in high school or a middle-aged teacher with kids. What you decide to put on in the morning is part of how you are defined as a person.

Now on to the bottom half of an outfit. Whether you like it or not, denim is a must have. Without explanation, jeans are probably the most practical clothing item found in one’s closet. However, jeans are frequently disliked because they’re perceived to be uncomfortable. Personally, I don’t think there’s a reason to blame jeans for this problem since there are so many different kinds. If your jeans are uncomfortable then you haven’t found the right pair yet, keep looking.

Musicians have never been able to gain more exposure than now with the use of the internet. Websites and social networks such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr have made it possible for some artists to gain quick and widespread popularity.

Our surroundings have a big impact on us, and as a result, we think that we need to have what everyone around us has or we won’t fit in. As a kid, I wanted every new toy that came out just so I would fit in. Now it ironically seems that the one thing that everyone wants is to become “hipster”.

The prevailing attitude among students seems to be that the singular goal we should all work for is attending college. The belief is that if you earn a good GPA, participate in extra curricular activities; you get accepted to the college you choose.

Seth Walsh, 13, attempted to take his life on September 19, 2010. He was found by his mother hanging from a tree in their backyard, and was on life support for ten days. He had tried to take his own life because of the constant bullying he endured at school for being openly gay. Even before coming out he was called derogatory names and had to be home schooled on two seperate accounts.

Marijuana legalization is a topic that has been debated for years now. No matter what you say, or do there are people who will always argue with you till the end. The surprising thing to most people is where I stand on the issue.